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gjuda ,awl JSaptist
J. J. TOON, - Proprietor.
PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 & 6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Rev. D. SHAVER, D.D.
COBRRSPONDIHO EDITORS :
Rev. J. J. D. RENFROE , Talladega, Ala.
Rev. S. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville, Ala.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1870.
Working Churches.
Denominational organization is of vital impor
tance. It brings the churches to work together,
for a single end, on a common plan, and with con
centrated energy.
But (as we have several times urged) there
is a form of organization which goes before this,
and is necessary to its highest efficiency. We
mean, congregational organization, which ensures
the performance of Christian work within each
church, finds a sphere of activity for every mem
ber, and combines the efforts and develops the
capabilities of all. Two instances of it are fur
nished by recent paragraphs in our exchanges;
and we give them below, as explanatory of its
nature and as an argument for its adoption. Will
churches and pastors seriously consider them, and
decide the question of duty in the premises, with
prayer for Divine guidance and blessing ?
“It is said that one year ago the Beach street
Presbyterian church, Boston, was struggling for
existence, with a congregation of about one hun
dred, and a sutn total of $1,900 raised during the
year. Since that time, two hundred and fifty
members have been added; their house is crowd
ed; SB,OOO have been raised for current expenses
and a debt of $30,000 paid; while from four to six
hundred are present at the prayer meetings. They
think the change has been effected by giving each
member something to do in one of these depart
ments of committee work : Relief | which renders
material aid; Care of the Sick ; Strangers , (the
“handshaking committee;”) Domestics, to look
after the working girls and hired men ; Music , to
be responsible for the singing; Sociable, to pro
vide social entertainment; Sabbath School, to
visit the sick and look after absentees; Devotional,
(a prayer meeting committee;) Young Women's
Devotional; and Spiritual, to assist the pastor.
All are expected to be employed. A superinten
dent directs the work of each committee, and the
pastor looks to the superintendent and works
through him.”
“The Tenth Baptist church of Philadelphia
publishes every month a neat little eight-page
paper, called The Shepherd's Croolc — A Guide to
Work and Worship, from which we learn that
the whole church is organized’on a working basis.
The congregation is divided into committees on
Sunday Schools, Visitation of Members; Mission
Work; Hospitality to Strangers; Collecting Sys
tematic Benevolence; Tracts and Religious Liter
ature; Temperance, etc. Circulars are sent to
every member of the church, requesting him or
her to consider in which committee they would
prefer to work; a blank is left at the bottom of
the circular to be filled up with the number of the
committee each prefers, and properly signed and
returned to the officers of the church, who lay
out the work to be done.”
Strange Lapse of Memory.
One of our Southern Methodist exchanges says:
“A correspondent wishes to know if it is the du
ty of a person baptized in infancy to be rebap
tized in mature age. Certainly not. What
Methodist ever dreamed of so wild a notion ?”
Whether this “notion” ever came to a Meth
odist in his ,‘dreams,’ we cannot say. But we
know“that tHp conviction of duty which our con
temporary decides as “ wild,”, has stamped itself
indel'ibTy on the conscience of thousands, in their
best waking hours, and as the result of prayerful
inquiry into the teachings of Holy Scripture.
They ‘flock to us as doves to their windows,’
through every yearly season of ingathering; and
scarcely a week passes by during that season, in
which Baptist papers do not report a number of
accessions from this quarter, sufficient to make
any well-informed Methodist blush for such ig
norance or pretence of ignorance as the enquiry
of our contemporary betrays.
But laying cases of that kind aside, —who does
not know that Methodists have been so often dis
turbed by this sense of duty, as to have given
rise to frequent discussions among them over the
question, Whether their own ministers may right
fully administer immersion to the dissatisfied par
ties ? These discussions have echoed, again and
again, through their newspaper organs and their
Conferences. We have met with them in the col
umns of our contemporary —in its editorial col
umns too. And yet it can ask, “ What Method
ist ever dreamed of so wild a notion ?” Was it
dreaming—wildly dreaming?
Reviews and Notices.
A Treatise on the Preparation and Delivery of
Sermons. By John A. Broadus, D.D., Professor in
the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Green
ville, S. C. Philadelphia: Smith, English & Cos.
Pp. 514. Retail price, $2 : on receipt of which the
Publishers send it by mail, pre paid.
If wc may judge from the extent of the prac
tice, talking behind one’s back must possess a
strong fascination for human nature ; and we arc
glad of the opportunity to indulge it, just this one
time. Dr. Broadus is parted from us, at present,
by the width of the ocean ; and we can tell our
readers to the full what we think of him, with no
risk that our words will ever reach his ears in
Europe. “ Favete Unguis ,” then. “Take him
all in all,” he is the Prince of Preachers, within
our sphere of (adequate) personal knowledge; and
we have sometimes thought that if we were con
demned to hear but a single voice from the pulpit
for the residue of this mortal pilgrimage, and were
allowed liberty of choice in the premises, it should
be the voice of Dr. Broadus. No pen could more
appropriately undertake a work like the one be
fore us than his—and this is worthy even of that.
It is clear, thorough, judicious. The imprint of
the central, distinctive idea which underlies—
which moulds—our “ School of the Prophets” at
Greenville, is upon it throughout: in this—that
unlike Porter, Ripley, Shedd, and even Hoppin, it
does not assume that the student has enjoyed the
advantages of literary and theological training,
and developes its special and related topics in a
way adapted to meet the wants of those who have
never passed through the College and the Semi
nary. Its high merit as a text-book, in the hands
of those who are prosecuting an “ education for
the ministry,” by no means constitutes its chief
recommendation : it has higher merit as a man
ual, guide and help toward that “ education in the
ministry,” through which the majority of those
who occupy our pulpits fit themselves for their
life-work. Those who “ learn to preach by preach
ing," will find it invaluable, in its five parts :
I, Materials of Preaching; 11, Arrangement of a
Sermon ; 111, Style ; IV, Delivery; V, Conduct
of Public Worship.
Prockrdingr of the National Baptist Educational
Conventio'-, held in Ihe Pierrepont Stree" Baptist
Church, Brooklyn, April 19—21, 1870. Published
by the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union. Pp. 256.
This is a book which should be read by all
Baptist Educators—a class of men who, more
than any others perhaps, hold an influential,
formative relation to the future of our denomina
tion. There are thoughts on this subject, which
seem to us worthy at least of canvassing; and
we shall take occasion to place them before our
readers hereafter, in connection with a more leis
urely perusal than we can now give this highly
interesting and valuable document. Meanwhile,
we are grateful for the liberality which has thrown
it within reach of every one, by issuing it at a
price so far below its merit} and even its co t.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOOTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA., THDRSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, IS7O.
Baptistic Presbyterianism.
The rules of the Northern Presbyterian Board
of Education relating to candidates for the minis
try, require that the recommendation given them
shall state the number of “years, or months,"
covered by their “ term of membership in the
Presbyterian church, or some closely related
body,”—which term “ must have been for at least
six months.”
This regulation is practically Baptistic—or at
least Baptistic in phraseology. The language im.
plies (irresistibly) that “ membership” in the
church does not date from birth, or from baptism
in infancy. It implies, (though less clearly,) that
“ membership” begins, and can begin, only with
a credible profession of saving faith, and a per
sonal assumption of Christian obligations and
privileges on the basis of that profession. We
are glad to see this leaven of our principles at
work, even though it be only a matter of style:
for when the speech of men becomes better than
their system, the hold of that system on their
tnind, while they may be conscious of no change,
is really weakening. May we not seek in this
quarter an explanation of the fact that for the
past year, the Southern Presbyterian church re
ported only one infant baptism for every twenty
three communicants, and the Northern only one
for every twenty-seven —that in the former com
munion the number of “ infant,” as compared with
“adult” baptisms, rose very little above the pro
portion of tw r o to one, and in the latter, actually
fell below it ?
The rule on which we venture these strictures,
is sharply reviewed by a writer in the Philadel
phia Presbyterian. He says:
As the majority of the candidates for the minis
try were “ born in the pale of the Church,” and
were baptized in infancy, and brought up in “ the
Presbyterian Church,” we would like to inquire
how we are to determine the years, or months
of their “membership in the Presbyterian Church,”
when even the candidates themselves very seldom
possess a record of the date of their baptism ? And
we would venture to ask again, of what use this
information can be in the majority of cases, when
the age of the candidate has already been given ?
Perhaps our Board of Education believe only in
adult baptism, or do not regard baptism as a visi
ble and formal initiation into church-membership ?
Or, possibly, that a child born in the pale of the
Holy Catholic Church, and baptized in infancy,
may be regarded as a member of the Holy Catholic
Church, but not as a member of that holiest and
straitest of sects, “the Presbyterian Church,” albeit
he was baptized by a Presbyterian minister, at a
Presbyterian font, amid the prayers of a Presbyte
rian congregation, and the clerk of a Presbyterian
Session enrolled his name in the records of a Pres
byterian church, and reported the baptism, with
others, to a Presbyterian General Assembly, to
be counted and published among the number of
infants baptized in the Presbyterian Church of
the United States of America.
Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
Rev. A. B. Campbell writes, of Florida Associa
tion : “ This is decidedly a missionary body. Its
churches, this year, have sustained three efficient
missionaries, and the number of baptisms is un
precedented in its history. We anticipate a feast
of good things at the approaching session.”
Alabama.
Town Creek church has had 45 accessions (four
from the “ Campbellites” and seven from the Pe
dobaptists); Mount Pisgah, Laurens, 15; Pleas
ant Grove, 25 ; Enon, 22 ; Brush Creek, Lauder
dale, 10.
Arkansas.
Rev. J. F. Griffin, missionary of thf Bartholo
mew Association, reports 43 recent baptisms and
ithe constitution of two new Seven-,
teen were recently baptizedat Zion Hill, Ouachitta
county ; 10 at Macedenia; 17 at Friendship.
S. M. Provence, late of Richmond College, was
ordained at Clarenden, Sept. 4th.
Kentucky.
The opening of Georgetown College is better
than it has been since the war; and Bethel be
gins with twice as many college students proper,
as it had at the beginning of the session last year.
church, Butler county ; 62 to Bethel, near Lip
ton’s Station; 20 to Long Lick, Scott county ; 17
to Wilson’s Chapel, Mercer; 16 to Cash Creek.
A church was constituted, Sept. 2nd, at Mc-
Daniel’s school house, Taylor county; Rev. A. J.
Whitley, pastor. Rev. A. C. Caperton is to
have a debate, Oct. 18th, at Mayfield, Graves
county, with Rev. J. E. Miles, “Disciple,” in which
the latter affirms: “ That the baptism of a peni
tent believer is in order to remission of sins;” and
“ that the gospel of Christ, either written or spo
ken, is, in itself, without the personal presence
and the personal influence of the Holy Spirit, suf
ficient for the conversion of the sinner.” Rev.
A. W. Mullins is dead. Rev. J. Pike Powers
takes charge of the church at Carlisle.
Louisiana.
Rev. G. B. Eager reports, through the Baptist,
145 accessions in the Louisiana Bottom. He re
organized the church at Oak Grove, where “there
is a Methodist membership of 125, of whom, (one
of their ministers told him) only about ten profess
to be regenerated. Among the 65 converts bap
tized at one time in Beouff river, were “ one or
two whole households.” Rev. F. Courtney
writes to th <s Baptist, Memphis: “Within the
present year, I heard a distinguished Professor
of a University, the son of an Episcopal Bishop,
and himself an Episcopalian, say that immersion
was undoubtedly the apostolic mode of baptism.
When asked why then the Episcopalians did not
practice it, he said it was laziness, he thought.”
Mississippi.
“The Baptist organization at Bethlehem church,
Marshall county,” were forbidden to hold any
more meetings in the house of worship, (which be
longed to the Methodists,) because it was “ detri
mental to the interests of the Methodist church
that the Baptists should any longer be admitted
to continue as an organized body and preach in it.”
Whereupon the Baptists have raised over $1,400
to build a house of their own. Spring Creek
church, Marshall,has had 18 accessions; Zion, four
miles from Yazoo city, 17; Union, Franklin, 10.
Fifty-four have been baptized at Crystal
Springs, Bethlehem and Palestine churches; and
Pastor Walne, of Vicksburg, raised nearly SI,OOO
for our house of worship in that city. Rev. E.
F. Simmons, Kossuth, proposes to labor as mis
sionary in China, and to start for that field in six
or eight weeks. —Rev. J. T. Sparkman, of Friar s
Point, in a tour of sixty days, added 161 to
churches in the Mississippi Bottom, and among
them, 35 Methodists and Romanists G. M.
Savage was ordained to the ministry at Hinkle s
Creek, Alcorn county, Aug. 13th.
Missouri.
Mt. Shiloh, Randolph county, has had 25 acces
sions ; Salem church, Jackson county, 26; Mont
gomery City church, 15; Mt. Horeb, Montgom
ery, 27; Lee’s Summit church, 66; Pleasant X al
ley, Jackson, 14; Concord, 16. A church
has been constituted six miles northeast of Mo
berly, Randolph county. A meeting at Clap
per’s school house, Monroe, a community chiefly
under Romish and Anti-missionary Baptist in*
fluence for twenty years, resulted in the organiza
tion of a church of 32 members.
North Carolina.
Rev. N. B. Cobb has been appointed District
Secretary of our Sunday School Board, Memphis,
for Southeast Virginia and this State. There
have been at Sandy Plains church, Cleveland
county, 38 baptisms; at Floyd’s Creek, Ruther
ford, 40; at Silver Creek, Polk, 23 ; at Pleasant
Hill, 50; at New Bethel, 16; at Providence, Ca
tawba, 11; atßamoth Gilead, Pasquotank, 33 ; at
Bethlehem, Moore, 17; at Mount Moriah, near
Raleigh, 43; at New Hope, 27; at Forestville,
some 40; at Flat Rock, over 20; at Frank
linton, 26. “At Dr. Wingate’s meeting at
Franklinton, a grog-seller professed conversion,
and then took down his sign and shut up his
shop."- A Sunday school kept up, by a lady,
at an old deserted log cabin near Lillington, New
Hanover county, led to a revival with 34 conver
sions. A Sunday school at the residence of a
private hrother, some four miles from Shady Grove
church, brought about a meeting with 20 conver
sions ; and a church is to be constituted at that
point.
South Carolina.
Forty-two have been baptized at Plumb Creek
church, Edgefield county ; 30 at Spring Hill, Lan
caster; 23 at Gilead, Union; 40 at Antioch, York-
A committee of brethren have raised $20,000
at Greenville, for Furman University, and think
they can raise $30,000. B. F. Miller was or
dained to the ministry at Ebenezer, Greenville
county, (where he becomes pastor,) August 28th:
sermon by Rev. J. C. Furman, D. D.
Texas.
Union Grove church, Grimes county, has had
20 accessions ; Walnut Creek church, 13 ; Little
River, 30; Port Sullivan, 12 ; Sugar Loaf, 14;
Salem, 23 ; Hebron, 30. Rev. T. B. McComb
has accepted the agency of the Missionary Board
of the General Association.->—Rev. J. W. D.
Creath, writing to the Houston Herald, of the
churches in the Little River Association, says:
“To Providence, 31 have been added by expe
rience, and immersion, and letter, etc., Elder J.
Beall, pastor. This church raised S2OO cash,
and purchased one hundred acres of land for a
parsonage, and raised S6OO to erect buildings, and
will pay SI,OOO for the support of a pastor in,
1871 to preach every Sabbath. This is good fruit
to be yielded by a revival.”
Tennessee'.
Rev. A. Van Hoose has resigned charge of our
church at Murfreesboro, and accepted an agency
for the Domestic Mission Board, Marion, in Mis
souri, Kentucky and Tennessee. Rev. Prof. T.
T. Eaton supplies Murfreesboro at present, as
temporary pastor. Trezevant church lias had
20 accessions ; Smith’s Fork, near Statesville, 22 ;
Hilton, near Alexandria, 15. A movement is
on foot to enlarge the capital of the Southwestern
Publishing Company to SIOO,OOO, and to amend
the charter so that none but Baptists can own or
control the capital. The movement is a good one,
and we hope it will succeed. Rev. T. E. Skin
ner, D.D., has resigned charge of the First church,
Nashville. The Raleigh Recorder says: “We
should be glad to see him return to this, his na
tive State.” The General Association of East
Tennessee meets at Dandridge, Oct. Bth.
Virginia.
Rev. J. D. Hus ham, former editor of the Bibli'
cal Recorder, has been laboring in protracted meet
ings in the Southeastern part of this State, and
has established quite a reputation as a preacher
there. W. C. Lindsay, Richmond, has been
ordained to the ministry, and will take charge of
our church at Wilson, N, C. Lyles church,
Fluvanna, has appointed a committee to introduce
the State Baptist paper, (the Herald,) into every
family connected with the church. Rev. E.
Payson Walton has embraced the peculiar views
of Swedenborg. Rev. 11. Petty takes charge of
a missionary field in Accomac. Sixteen have
been baptized at New Chapel, Campbell county;
20 at Bethesda, Caroline; 26 at Pamunkey,
Orange. Rev. P. L, Richeson, died, at Roek
.bridge Alum 3rd, aged 46 years.
Rev. T. E. Skinner, D.i).
Rev. Dr. Skinner, pastor of the Pirst Baptist
church of Nashville, has resigned his charge.
The church, in accepting the resignation, voted,
unanimously, the adoption of the following reso
lutions, and directed that a copy be sent to this
paper, with a request for publication.
Whereas, Our esteemed pastor, Rev. Thomas E.
Skinner, D.D., has tendered his resignation, and
has also avowed his fixed purpose to terminate
his connection with this church as its pastor;
therefore,
Resolved, That the resignation of Dr. Skinner
be accepted, to take effect at the time which he
has indicated: viz., Ist November.
Resolved, That while we sincerely regret the
causes which have led him to take this step, we
desire to bear testimony to the distinguished abil
ity and truly Christian fidelity with which he has
discharged the manifold duties of a minister of
Christ and a church pastor, from the time of his
coming among us until this day.
Resolved, That we recognize in Dr. Skinner
the qualities and qualifications so justly deemed
pre-requisite to a successful preacher of righteous
ness ; piety, natural gifts, knowledge and skill.
These, we think, he possesses in a very eminent
degree. By his earnestness of purpose, patient
and untiring labor in the investigation of scrip
tural teaching, and the presentation of gospel
truth in fresh and attractive forms, Dr. Skinner
rivets attention and enriches the minds of his
hearers. He has, withal, a broad—a catholic
spirit of Christian charity, competent to recog
nize the good under all forms and everywhere,
yet rarely failing to discriminate between truth
and error. Asa man, a brother, and a servant of
the living God, he must command the respect and
admiration, not only of our own denomination,
but of God’s people elsewhere.
Resolved, That we regard the possession of
such gifts and qualifications as indicating one fit
ted for pre-eminent usefulness in the work of the
gospel ministry, whether as a captain of pioneers,
or a standard-bearer in the front of the army of
Prince Immanuel.
Resolved, That in parting with our beloved
brother and pastor, we will not only “remember
him who has spoken unto us the word of God,”
but will follow him with strong desire and ardent
prayers that his life and health may be long pre
served; that the richest blessings of the Lord
may be with him, and upon his future labors;
and that he, and they to whom he has so faith
fully and affectionately spoken the word, may be
“ more than conquerors through Him that loved
us.
Stone Mountain Association.
This body met on Friday, Septemcer 9th,
at Tanner’s church, Clayton county. The
Association was opened by an introductory
sermon from Elder William Henry Strick
land, of Stone Mountain, from John i: 14.
His subject was, The Two Natures of Christ.
He made three points, to-wit: 1. Jesus
Christ was really and truly a man, possessing
both a human body, and a human soul.
2. Jesus Christ was more than a mere man.
3. The superiority that He possessed over
man, was that lie was God. Some were
pleased with, arid endorsed his arguments;
others, having never considered the question
in that light, were awakened to thought and
reflection ; while others disagreed with the
speaker, taking the published views of Rev.
J. R. Graves, that Jesus had no human soul.
Among the latter number was our Sunday
school agent, F. M. Haygood. The sermon
gave evidence of considerable study, and, in
the opinion of the writer, was entirely suc
cessful in proving all that was intended by
the speaker.
At 2 o’clock p. m., the Association organ
ized for business by electing Elder William
Henry Strickland moderator, and T. A. Gibbs
clerk. The letters reported about twice as
much money for missions a3 was sent up last
year. Some churches reported very gracious
revivals of religion, while others lamented
coldness and barrenness. About 125 addi
tions were reported by baptism, 54 of them
from two churches. The Third church of
Atlanta applied for admission and was re
ceived into the Association, It appears that
several churches are destitute of pastors. The
Association numbers 24 churches, with a
membership of near 1,800.
Rev. F. M. Haygood and W. N. Chaudoin
were present to represent their respective
Boards. Brother H. got several dollars for
his “ benevolent wagon.” The missionary
sermon was preached byEWer W. D. Atkin
son, at the stand. It was said to have been
a happy effort. The writer was in the house
at the time, listening to-iflrtrmon from Elder
William Henry Strickland. A resolution was
offered in the body loqhtfig to the great im
portance of some plan o T benevolence
in all the churches. Altera full discussion,
the resolution was recommending all
the pastors to bring whayjs called the “ en
velope system” before their churches.
The claims of your peerless paper, brother
S., were advoeatqjLby brother Chaudoin, who
made some of us astyhisned by saying that
he (brother C.) would deprived of the
Index and Baptist onjf par for $l5O. Bro
ther C. preached one o" nis tenderest, most
melting sermons on Sabk|ith morning to the
children. It is always a pleasure to hear
him—he feels so intenser what he says. On
Sabbath afternoon, brother B. F. Tharpe
preached at the stand. CM the whole, I think
the meeting just past gave evidences of
progress, both in the actual cash paid in and
in the enlarged and incrqised liberal views of
the brethren. We sorry, brother S.,
that, you failed to be wn»**r-Our next meet
ing will be with the ion church, Newton
county. An abundant cjpply for the physi
cal man was prepared bjfour sisters, to whom
we owe many thanks.'mhe session, on the
whole, was pleasant and, we
trust, good was in God’s cause.
M A Delegate.
Southern .mbama.
I commenced a at this little rail
road station, on the MoMle and Montgomery
Railroad, last Saturday->nd to-day (Monday)
have just baptized 27/\3ith one more to bap
tize after service, as sfo was not prepared
this morning. This of the best meet
ings 1 have ever been ffb for the size of the
"congregation. I am t*e missionary of the
Providence Baptist Association. Brother P.
S. Milner was with me|n this glorious meet
ing until yesterday, did some good
preaching. My work 1$ a large one, both in
Alabama and Mississippi. 1 have received
and baptized, since our last Association, 71,
and atone church wheqAlheld a meeting, 11
were received and baptized by the pastor.
A'great many of tho-«b|£ches are indulging a
revival spirit, and manTißDfe will-soon come
into the church. The Providence Baptist Asso
ciation embraces the Mobile city churches,and
is now in a prosperoiHfondition. The Asso
ciation will be held tlis year at Rayford's
Chapel, on Spring Hilrßoad, at 4 mile post.
The St. Francis or Spring Hill cars run to
this place. P commqwfW Saturday before the
2nd Lord’s day in next month (October.)
, Joseph Mitchell.
Bayminette, Sept. 20, 18^0-
Tuskegee Association.
This body has changed its time of meeting.
It holds its next annual session with the Au
burn church, and convenes on Saturday before
the third Sunday in October. Auburn is a
very pleasant town, and quite accessible ; we
hope, therefore, to shaffe largely, as usual, in
visits from our preaching brethren from ad
joining Associations, ahd from Western Geor
gia. Especially do v;ri wish to see those who
labored so faithfullyL with us in the past.
Among that numberTwe will mention Dr.
Henderson, who presided over this Associa
tion for several years/ Brother Editor, you
must come to our nu-rting. Let our people
see you, and feel yoiJand thus aid us in per
suading them more g4*erally to subscribe for
and read the Index a® Baptist, a paper that
w« desire Ba*jst in Georgia to read.
My field of labor 71 large and interesting.
A decided progress ilevident. Some 25 or
30 members receivedfluring the year; some
recently baptized, others waiting. Prayer
meetings and Sunday?schools well attended.
Contributions for missions pretty good. Sub
scriptions for denominational papers not half
what they ought to be( W. E. Lloyd.
Auburn, September 20. \
Letter froiii Kentucky.
Dear Index : Your pleasant face and genial
words find their way to the heart now as in
the days of yore, when we sat nearer your
home. They come rattling over the iron road
far away to our “ old ( lew) Kentucky home.”
They cheer us up and encourage us in our
journey to the Land o.- the blest the Land
without a storm. The sunshine comes
way up here from the light part of the
“ Lights and Shadows.” O! it is a perfect
trear to us to seize you and read of what our
friends —dear old friends of Georgia and Ala
bama—are doing way-Sown in Dixie for you
and you for themselves. You are doing a
great and noble work. God bless you in it!
Would that more of the* friends of the Master
would give you the privilege of doing for
them! Os the 150,000 Baptists of the two
States, at least 30,000 should give you a cor
dial, substantial invitation to their homes and
firesides. O that Baptists might become
Methodists in this particular. But enough.
As to this State, 1 hafie not been here long
enough to give you hardly an idea of things
in general. I visited, a few weeks since, the
Union Association, which is composed of 20
churches, convening wfth the North Fork
church, near Milford, i think l never saw
such an Association gathering before, esti
mated at 5,000. It wa!f tin a beautiful place.
If John the Baptist wenrito Enon to procure
water for the stock, as *Ae are informed by
some wise (wise above what is written) Pe
dobaptist brethren, of John
seem to have followed in his trail in this par
ticular, for they had water on all sides of
them; yes, and too before the
meeting broke. ]
Dr. Warden, a risingjlight in Kentucky,
preached Sabbath morriJng from 1 Cor. xi:
2. Now I pray you, brethren, that ye . .
keep the ordinances asd* delivered them to
you.
Campbellism has so thoroughly penetrated
the masses of the State that Baptists seem to
feel it their imperative duty very often to
stab it under the fifth rljp; so the Doctor,
with legitimate deduction from the text, de
molished their cardinal clctrine of baptismal
regeneration. He very clearly set forth Bap
tist views on baptism and the Eucharist, and
that we are to keep them as delivered to us;
that baptism is not the immersion of a person
in water; that every immersion is not bap
tism, but that baptism is'the immersion of a
believer, in water, in the name of the Father,
Son and Holy Ghost —anew idea to the
Campbellites, as they reject the work of the
Holy Spirit. That the object of baptism was
not to wash away sin, but an advertisement
that it had been washed away, using the cus
tom of the leper, who had been cleansed, but
was to offer for his cleansing. So Christ was
baptized, not to wash ayujj/j sin for He had
nosin—but to manifest himself to Israel ac
cording to John’s testimony. He very plainly
showed from the different idioms the cause of
the different expressions used ; thffS in preach
ing to the Jews the Hebrew idiom was used,
e. g., Peter at Pentecost, Ananias to Paul,
etc.; and that when Gentiles are addressed
the Greek idiom was used, e. g., Peter .to
Cornelius, Paul to the Jailor, etc.; and that
the brethren of the Beforrpation never cited
passages addressed to the Gentiles as proof
texts—an idea which will be very likely to
wake up some of them from their sleep of car
nal security. “ None are so blind as they who
will not see,”
You know that the disciples of Oarnp
bell have, by their manoeuvre! ng, obtained
the State School property, and are using it
with zeal to propagate their pernicious heresy.
They are well compared to the Pharisees of
our Lord’s time.
The Union Association reports 70 baptisms,
but only 7 Sabbath schools out ot the 22
churches (?) Our Association (the Bracken)
met on the Ist instant, with Sharpsburg
church, Bath county. This Association has
been the model Association of the State, with
out exception. This year there is quite a
falling off, because of the removal of minis
ters, etc. These vacancies have been filled
in part by young brethren. We have five
young ministers, three of whom have been
students at Greenville, S. C.; and in this re
spect it is exceeding pleasant for us. We are
thrown together frequently, for our Associa
tion has a Missionary Board which meets in
connection with the Sabbath School Conven
tion every sth Sabbath, and thus we are en
abled to advise, condole and encourage each
other; a most excellent plan for ministers to
pursue.
All must have been sad at the small acces
sion reported. Os the 22 churches represented,
only 51 (?) baptisms, and only 9 Sabbath
schools —what brother C. would call a
“ shadow,” dark enough. The meeting was
very pleasant and delightful. My own church
has the privilege of entertaining the Associa
tion next year. One word about the church
in Augusta: I have some jewels, for which I
am devoutly thankful to God. One of these
is now building a beautiful church edifice at
Brooksville, the county site of Bracken, col
lecting the means Where he can. The same
brother is my Sabbath school superintendent,
and is blessed with some of the characteris
tics of my former coadjutor, our much loved
brother, Rev. William L. Mansfield. Happy
the man who has such co-laborers. Another
of these jewels is a judge, who occupies a
prominent position in our little city,and in the
Association itself, being its moderator. With
all his influence, he fills his seat with his de
voted class in the Sunday school. Though
not a wealthy man, his church expenses last
year weres7oo. And you are ready to ask:
if this is so with the males, what must it be
with the females, as they excell in every good
thing? But I have wearied you already, and
will beg pardon and quit. More anon.
G. W. Given.
Augusta, Ky., Sept. 12,1870.
Revival: Colored Association.
I have just closed an interesting meeting
here, during which I baptized twelve upon a
profession of faith, and received three by let
ter. More than half are members of our
Sabbath school, and of the number, some are
young men, who, with proper care, will make
pillars in the church.
The Middle Georgia Association (colored)
closed its last session here a few weeks ago.
Rev. Wilks Flagg was moderator, and J. A.
Janies clerk. They are both men of superior
intelligence and moral worth. They exert a
tremendous influence over their brethren.
They are deeply pious, fully alive to the wants
of their race, and free from predjudiee against
their white brethren. Having attended their
business meetings, in connection with breth
ren F. M. Haygood, of the Central, and N.
W. Collier, of the Houston Association, l will
give you some of the impressions I received.
It was an orderly and dignified body, and
business was dispatched with a surprising de
gree of parliamentary decorum and rapidity.
This was owing to the tact of their moderator.
His ability to control so large, unwieldy and
undisciplined a body was remarkable. He
evidently understands the character of his
race, and presides accordingly. With the
whites he would be called a tyrant, and would
hardly fill the chair more than once; but he
stands high with his people, and with confi
dence relies upon their support, notwithstand
ing hijt iron rule. The body is too large and
the territory too extensive. They will have
to divide and form not less ihan four Associa
tions. Over thirty churches petitioned for
membership. It is really a Convention.
The desire they manifested for a holy and
an intelligent ministry was an interesting
feature. The more pious and intelligent of
their race, of whom the Association was com
posed, deplore the general desire of their
membership to preach. They passed resolu
tions urging the churches to be cautious
whom they set apart to the ministry.
They condemned it as disastrous to their
cause, and ruinous to their race, to allow any
and ail to be their religious instructors, sim
ply because they may have acquired a little
smattering of knowledge. It was decidedly
refreshing to hear the withering ridicule with
which the moderator rebuked those ministers
who indulge in the ridiculous excesses of
voice, manner and feeling of the present
times. The body took no less interest in the
Sabbath school cause. Their resolutions and
speeches showed the deep interest they are
taking in the religious instruction of their
children, and the regret which their prominent
members feel at the indifference of many of
their people. As it is among the whites, there
is a wonderful propensity among them to
make speeches before the Association.
They received cordially, brother F. M.
Ilaygood, as a messenger from the Central
Association. They desire their white breth
ren to be with them and aid them, and hence
have sought correspondence with several of
the white Associations, and also appointed
their moderator, and J. L. Primus to corres
pond with the Georgia Baptist Convention.
The question was asked, if they thought of
seeking membership in that body, when the
moderator answered, that no such step would
be taken, unless the Convention desired it,
and would invite them to make such applica
tion. They only proposed to correspond, that
the whites might thereby take the more inter
est in them, and visit and aid them. A bet
ter behaved body of men I never saw. They
elicited the universal praise of our people.
They meet next year at Cuthbert; and 1 will
say to our brethren there, that if the same de
corum is observed, they need have no appre
hension of disorder.
Our cause, I think I may safely say, is on
the advance here. The morality of the town
is unexceptionable, and the health is good.
The church is gradually growing in numbers,
piety and efficiency, and for strict and impar
tial discipline, is surpassed by but few.
As the Houston and Ebenezer Associations
meet near here, —the one six miles off, in
cluding the 2nd Sabbath, and the other but
two miles off, including the 3rd Sabbath in
October, —we would welcome visiting minis
ters among us. G. 11. McCall.
Hawkivsville, Sept, 21, 1870.
Lights and Shadows.
Dear Reader: Unless you have experi
enced it, you do not know how pleasant,
pleasant it is for a minister to visit a church,
which he has served, meet a kind reception,
and feel you still are loved for your work’s
sake. This pleasure was mine some time
ago, when I visited Antioch church, in Lee
county, one of the oldest churches in South
ern Georgia, a mother of churches, This
church has done nobly in calling to ordination
the pastor that succeeded me—Bishop G. A.
Lofton, of Dalton, and her present bishop, J.
G. 1 would that many of our churches
were not so afraid of young ministers.
Brother Polhill is doing a good work there,
and is not afraid to preach missions. A
shadow is upon my heart. Two precious
brethren have died since I was at Antioch,
H. 1. Walker and W. H. Green. Several
readers will thank me for giving their names,
I have no shadow of doubt, but they are in
Paradise; yet | feel sad. I baptized them,
rejoiced with them; their houses were my
homes, their money was given me, they loved
their church, were needed by their church.
No more, no more will I see them here. But
I murmur not at what I have lo9t, but thank
God for the sweet hope that I will meet them,
and know them too, (what would meeting them
be worth without it?) “ in the Christian’s home
in glory.”
It was delightful to be at Barnesville when
1 was there, for there was light there. Never
did I see, perhaps, a church in better work
ing condition. Every male member who had
attended the meeting had talked, confessed
sins, asked prayer, or told his experience. A
female prayer meeting was held every eve
ning, at brother Brown’s residence, and they
were precious seasons. Bishop Wood was
nearly beside himself, just looking on and
riding, instead of pulling the wagon himself,
and has not come sufficiently to himself to
tell how many he baptized; but he will,time
enough to let green light shine at the Associ
ation, next week.
Yes, and I found light at Bethsaida, in Fay
ette county, a church with 349 members,
when I was there, since recruited by 21 bap
tisms, a few streaks of which light I discerned
before l left. The ordination of D. A. Brown
to the ministry was a ray of light The
Sunday school does not shine as brightly as
it had done, was shining though, and I tried
to help it some. Large bodies emit more
light than small ones, as the moon gives more
light than the stars. So the Bishop of Beth
saida, being large, (one lady who loves him
very much, calls him “Big John,”) emits
more light than some smaller men. He never
was a member of any other church, has been
its pastor over 27 years, during which time
he has baptized into that one church about
700 persons. He has only 12 children, and
only something over 50 grand children, and
has baptized all the former, and all the latter
that are twelve years old. Surely the his
tory of Elder J. S. Dodd is remarkable. I
wonder if it was him and his wife that Lila
visited, whom she tells us about in the last
Index, of whom she says :
“ Lights and shadows, with smiles and tears,
Had mingled in these three-score years."
I thought of “Big John ” and his wife when
I read her piece, for it is true of them, ex
cept, may be, they hive not “journeyed” in
company quite “three-score years.” There
were shadows at Bethsaida, though, but I will
omit them, except to say that one of them
will disappear when a certain promise is ful
filled at the Fairburn Association.
Reader, a Baptist minister, a big man,
says that any one can take me out of the
dark, chase my shadows away directly, by a
five or ten dollar treasury note, or greenback.
Reader, will you try the experiment? I tell
you, that minister was right, lie knows hu
man nature, and my nature, well. A dear
friend, unknown, at Sparta, Ga., made me as
light, some days ago, by a sweet little letter,
with a bill in it for missions. A smaller one
than ten or five /Vi ll give me light. Reader,
throw me a ray of missionary green light.
Wm. N. Chaudoin Agent.
Associational Notes in Soutli Alabama.
Who has not been to an Association in the
country, and enjoyed the gushing, overflow
ing hospitality, characteristic of Southerners ?
The good people of Pinevillo, Wilcox conn
ty, Ala., entertained the Pine Barren Asso
ciation from the 17th to the 20th inst., in a
style which made all theguests feel “at home.”
Rev. C. W. Hare preached the Introductory
Sermon, and a most excellent one, too, a copy
of which the body, by a unanimous vote, will
append to the minutes. 1 will send you a
copy, that it may have a more widely spread
dissemination, by occupying, in part or in
whole, a place in the Index and Baptist.
Brother M. L. McWilliams was elected Mod
erator, and C. W. Hare, Clerk. The business
was dispatched with great harmony and cx
pedition, embracing the usual routine. There
were 155 baptisms reported during the year,
and the letters received being larger than the
dismissions, shoyv a marked increase of nu
merical strength. One very hopeful feature
noticeable in the Pine Barren, is the large
number of young, active ministers, in addi
tion to several licentiates, some of whom are
in our able “School of the Prophets,” at
Greenville, S. C., studying to show them
selves approved unto God—workmen that
need not to be ashamed, while “ rightly divi
ding the word of truth.” The territory of
this body is rather remote from postal facili
ties, consequently our denominational litera
ture has a sparse circulation among them ;
and as a consequence, Sabbath schools and
missions do not receive that attention which
the great, warm hearts of this people would
give them, under different circumstances.
Many take papers, and get them by private
hands, or send from fifteen to thirty miles
for them. The Selma and Gulf Railroad,
which penetrates this region, will soom rem
edy these defects, and put this fine section of
country in communication with the busy outer
world, from which it is now comparatively
isolated.
The colored membership formerly connec
ted with churches of this Association, forms,
in most instances, now a distinct organization,
Indeed, from most of our churches in South
Alabama, the colored people have taken let
ters and formed separate churches. The In
dex and S. W. Baptist, the Baptist and Kind
Words, each obtained some circulation among
the messengers at Pineville, for which they
will derive benefit and receive the thanks of
Viator.
Greenville, Sept. 23.
Notes by the Wayside—ll.
Your correspondent came near being left
at Augusta. By dint of exertion I got on the
train, though it was in motion. I selected the
Columbia, Charlotte and Raleigh route. From
Augusta to Columbia the country appeared
remarkably poor. 1 suppose the railroad
passes over the very poorest, as it seemed to
be a ridge. Os Columbia, I saw but little ;
but from what I did see, 1 imagined it to be
fast recovering from the effect of the great
conflagration visited upon it by the Federal
army, and to be quite a nice city now. The
country, from Columbia to Charlotte, changed
a good deal for the better, and is quite an in
viting agricultural region. The ride from
Augusta to Charlotte, was a pleasant one.
Mr. M. M. Wolfe, our conductor, i9 one of
the most obliging, pleasant gentlemen, I ever
met on a railroad. It affords me pleasure to
say the same of Mr. B. G. Spragins, our
conductor on the N. C. R. lv. Each of these
polite gentlemen seemed to take pleasure in
giving information to passengers, and would
reply to questions asked without even a scowl
on their faces. 1 wonder why all conductors
cannot be equally pleasant! The Augusta,
Columbia and Charlotte Railroad extended
the usual courtesy of half fare to your cor
respondent; for which, in the name of my
church, 1 thank them. But the N. C. R. R.
refused to be so liberal. Do you think,
brother Editor, railroads would lose anything
if they passed God’s servants free, when
they go on their Master’s business?
Charlotte appears to be a very flourishing
little city. I learned that quite an improve
ment has been in the town sinoe the war;
but was told that the Baptist cause was great
ly behind the Methodist and Presbyterian.
This, of course, I regretted. May the Lord
greatly revive our brethren, and build up Ilis
cause in this important place.
We left Charlotte for Raleigh about sun
set; travelled all night, and reached the Capital
of N. C. about half-past six in the morning.
1 do not remember to hai e ever passed a
more unpleasant night on the cars. The dis
tance is only one hundred and seventy-five
mile 9, and yet it took about twelve hours to
run it, not quite fifteen miles an hour! But
the speed was not the worst feature—-that was
bad enough—there was no sleeping car at
tached to the train, and the backs of the seats
were screwed down, so passengers could not
even enjoy the luxury of throwing two seats
together, though the cars were not one third
filled, alter passing Greensboro. By the way,
I am reminded of a similar ease on the Nash
ville and Chattanooga Railroad. 1 passed
over this latter road last May, at night, and
asked the conductor to unlock a seat for me.
He asked, in a gruff manner, “ Have you
got a lady with you?” I answered him,
“ No.” lie insultingly said, “ 1 can’t (or 1
wont) unlock it.” The excuse given lor the
barbarous thing is, “ Let passengers take a
sleeping car.” Rut suppose they are not
able, or do not feel inclined, is there any good
cause why they should be so persecuted ?
Mr. Spragins, the conductor of the N. C.
train was not in the least to blame for our
want of comfort; the authorities on the road
had given orders in reference to the matter.
The conductor acted as a perfect gentleman ;
the company were to blame. I here take oe
casion to warn all persons coming North, not
to come by way of Raleigh. I speak from
experience. We took breakfast in Raleigh,
at the Yarbrough House. We had an excel
lent meal. 1 heartily commend this house to
all persons visiting the North Carolina Capi
tal. You will find obliging managers, atten
tive servants, good fare, and everything nice.
I visited the State House. It is a fine build
ing, of granite. The Senate Chamber and
the Representative Hull, are tasty and ele
gant. I did not meet Dr. Pritchard, the
pastor of the Baptist church, but learned he
was doing well, and that the church stood
high. From Raleigh, 1 came to Weldon,
through a pleasant country. The land looks
to be productive, and lies well, considerably
rolling. The cotton through North Carolina
appeared to have weed enough, but had little
fruit, so far as 1 could judge. Corn was
good. I found Weldon to be a very insig
nificant village—not what 1 expected to see.
A pleasant run of a few hours brought me
through Petersburg, and the historic fields
between that place and Richmond, to the
“ City of Hills,” where 1 am now.
Traveller.
Richmond, Va., Srjit. 13 th, 1870.
Revival in Dublin, 6a,
We began a series of meetings with the
Dublin church, Laurens county, on Friday,
the 2nd inst. The church, prior to this meet
ing, did live, but it was “at a poor dying
rate.” Brother W. R. Steeley came at the
commencement of the meeting, and God
came with him, and his exhortation was to
“ prove God now,” promising us that, if w r e
did, God would open the windows of heaven
and pour us out a blessing that our poor
hearts could not contain. We promised God
and one another, that we would commence!!'
that very moment to prove God. And l
think every Christian present remembered
his vow, for God opened the windows of
heaven and gave us a few drops from that
world of bliss that made our cups run over
often during the meeting. The meeting last
ed eleven days. During that time twenty -
four were baptized, one received by letter,
and two waiting for baptism —making an
aggregate of twenty-seven.
During the meeting brother W. S. Ram
say, who had been previously licensed, was
called to ordination by the church, and set
apart to the work of the gospel ministry by
the imposition of hands. Brother Ramsay
is a young man of fine accomplishments, and
has already made quite a noise as a preacher..
Every body with whom he is acquainted hits
an unwavering confidence in him, and only
know him to love him. Brother Ramsay’s
ordination came off in time to give him the
exquisite pleasure of leading his beloved wife
into the watery grave, and bilrying her in the
likeness of her Lord. Ido not remember to
have ever attended a meeting of more inter
est. Not only was the church thoroughly
revived, but the entire community was shaken
to its very centre. Sinners that were not in
the habit of attending church, could not stay
away; and nearly every one that attended
was hopefully converted. W. L. Gkioer.
September 13 th, 1870.
A Time or Refreshing:.
Again I chronicle with joy the cheerful
tidings of another happy and glorious revival
of religion at Shiloh church, in this (Morgan)
county. It was indeed a source of great joy
to behold the power of the gospel, to see the
salvation of the Lord, and the bright manifes
tations of the Holy Spirit in the conviction
and conversion of sinners How happy it
was to see the prodigal son return with a
penitent heart and full confession to his
Father’s house, who received him with joy !
if the angels of heaven rejoiced and tuned
their harps to play and sing songs of praises
to the Lamb, well may we weep with joy to
see the lost sons of Adam returning to the
fold of Christ. Eleven have united with the
church by baptism, and several are deeply
concerned about their soul’s salvation. A few
have professed a hope, but desire a stronger
confirmation before they take up their cross.
On yesterday it was my happy privilege and
duty to baptize nine ; after which, the congre
gation repaired to tho house of worship,
where we heard a most excellent ordination
sermon of brother Wray, deacon, by our
much beloved brother, D. E. Butler. After
the sermon, tho charge was given by the pas
tor, and prayer by brother Butler. After an
intermission of one hour, brother B. preached
again to a large and attentive audience, with
good effect. R astor.
Madison, Ga., Sept. Id, 1870.
Interesting Meetings.
According to previous appointment, I met
with the church at Macedonia, and assisted
by brother (t. E. Brewer, set apart brethren
William Conner way and A. J. Smith, to the
deacon’s office. The meeting w’as protracted.
Brother B. assisted four days and nights, and
his labors were highly appreciated by church
and pastor. The church was very much re
vived ; quite a number of mourners came
forward for prayer; the meeting continued
six days, and received one by letter, one on
confession of faith, two by restoration, six
by experience and baptism. Macedonia is a
thriving church, with several efficient members.
The church at Mt. Olive has been visited
with the outpouring of the blessed Spirit. A
meeting seven days and nine nights has been
held. I was assisted two days and nights by
Rev. J. R. Steely, whose labors were very
much blessed. No other ministerial aid.
l'he church was revived, sinners convicted,
and a number of conversions. During the
meeting the congregation was large, orderly
and attentive. Theie was a powerful move
and deep interest in the congregation. Bap
tized eleven ; two others were received by
experience, not yet baptized. The meeting
closed with mourners trembling and weeping
at the mourner’s bench ; the pastor worn out
J. W. Fulmer.
Hanover, Coosa County, Ala., Sept. 8, 1870.
Revivals: and a Test of them.
I have failed to send you an account of my
meetings at Antioch and Fairburn till now.
Both these churches seemed revived. Ten
were added to each church : seven baptized
at Antioch, three teeeived by letter: eight
baptized at Fairburn, two received by letter.
1 could only remain six days at each place.
There werea number of mourners,and several
conversions of those that I hope will soon
take up their cross to follow the Saviour.
At the next appointment at my churches, (the
Lord willing,) I will present the claims of
the Index and Baptist, and my success will
tell whether these churches are revived indeed
and in truth. J. S. Dodd.
September l5fA, 1870.
